Forum for Science, Industry and Business

Novel large area process tool specialized for OLED lighting and organic solar cells will be installed at COMEDD

14.11.2007

The pilot fabrication system consists of clusters combining thermal evaporation and organic vapor phase deposition (OVPD®) modules. The usable substrate size is 370 x 470 mm² on glass substrates and foils. The targeted tact time is three minutes, resulting in an annual capacity of approximately 13,000 m².

The system is designed for efficient materials usage and flexibility in substrate format and organic stack. It is one of the worlds first pilot production systems for OLED lighting and organic based solar cells.

“The order of the system is a key milestone for our future activities. It allows us to develop novel organic based lighting solutions within a pilot production scale surrounding.” says Joerg Amelung, business unit manager at the Fraunhofer IPMS.

The order of the fabrication system is the first step to establish COMEDD at the Fraunhofer IPMS. To speed up the time to market for OLED lighting, organic solar cells and OLED-on-CMOS-devices, the Fraunhofer IPMS is building three pilot production lines. Germany’s state and federal government, as well the EU, are investing € 25 million into COMEDD to establish the leading European institution for R&D and pilot production of small-molecule organic devices.

“The OLED lighting and organic photovoltaic industries will only work if we manufacture here in Europe, not just do design and research. The center wants to be the key partner for the European industry to develop fabrication-related processes up to a pilot fabrication level. Only such advanced tools allow to reach the R&D level we need here to support the necessary development.” says Prof. Karl Leo, director of the Fraunhofer IPMS.

For the tool suppliers, the order is as well an important step to achieve future business market segments.

“The order of our tool is for us an important step to OLED lighting fabrication machine market.” says Dr. Hoon Lim, CEO of Sunic Systems.

“The integration of an OVPD® module is a milestone for our business to integrate next generation fabrication technology into new market segments.” notes Dr. Bernd Schulte, Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer at AIXTRON AG.

Technology and market backgroundBesides conventional inorganic LEDs, OLEDs are considered as the second solid-state-lighting technology for new flat, large-area, and efficient lighting solutions in the future, opening a window for rapidly growing and large markets. First promising demonstrators were shown by Fraunhofer IPMS so far, but the current OLED technology has to advance in terms of manufacturing costs and integration aspects. In September 2007 Fraunhofer IPMS demonstrated one of the worldwide largest SM-OLED lighting modules with 80 x 20 cm² dimension (subdivided in 4 panels). The active area is 1,100 cm², the light output 250 Lumen.

In the mid- and long term future also organic based solar cells show a large market potential. Such modules will be low-cost, lightweight and flexible in shape. Due to the low-cost materials and close-to-room temperature manufacturing processes, a short energy payback time is expected.

Fraunhofer Institute for Photonic Microsystems (IPMS):The Fraunhofer IPMS carries out customer specific research and development in the fields of microelectronic and microsystems technology in Dresden, serving as a business partner that supports the transition of innovative ideas into new products. The Fraunhofer IPMS develops and fabricates modern CMOS and organic technology products in its own clean room facilities, up to small pilot series production. With modern equipment and about 240 scientists, the range of projects and expertise covers sensor and actuator systems, microscanner, spatial light modulators, lifetronics and organic materials and systems. The Fraunhofer IPMS holds the top position in the field of research and development of Micro-Opto-Electro-Mechanical Systems (MOEMS) in Europe and belongs to the leading institutes worldwide.Kontakt:Fraunhofer IPMSInes SchedwillMarketing/Public RelationsMaria-Reiche-Str. 201109 DresdenGERMANYTel.: ++49 (0) 351/8823-238Fax: ++49 (0) 351/8823-266e-mail: Ines.Schedwill@ipms.fraunhofer.deInternet: www.ipms.fraunhofer.deSunic System Ltd.:Since its founding in 1990, Sunic has been concentrated on developing and manufacturing machineries particularly in the field of OLED. Equity participation of KRW 8.5 billion from Mirae Asset Group Consortium in 2005 has greatly enhanced its financial stability. So far, Sunic’s OLED equipments have been widely used by major display panel manufacturers including Samsung SDI, Samsung Electronics, and Neo View Kolon; Material developers such as LG Chemicals and Merck KGaA; various universities and R&D centers such as Fraunhofer IPMS. Overseas customers include Fraunhofer IPMS, Thomson, OSRAM, and Merck KGaA in Europe, OptoTech in Taiwan, SVA, UESTC, and Hong Kong University in China and Hong Kong. Sunic’s management policy is to maintain its leading role in the OLED equipment industry by strengthening its R&D, especially equipments for large area production. Also noteworthy is Sunic’s set-up of service center in Europe slated for November 2007 will further activate its operation in the region.Kontakt:Sunic System LtdDaniel YangSenior Manager/Technical Sales333-1, Woncheon-dong, Youngtong-gu, Suwon, Gyeonggi-do, KoreaTel 82 31 219 1102 Fax 82 31 217 4476hsyang@sunic.co.kr www.sunic.co.krAIXTRON AG:AIXTRON AG is a leading provider of deposition equipment to the semiconductor industry. The Company's technology solutions are used by a diverse range of customers worldwide to build advanced components for electronic and opto-electronic applications based on compound, silicon, or organic semiconductor materials. Such components are used in fiber optic communication systems, wireless and mobile telephony applications, optical and electronic storage devices, computing, signaling and lighting, as well as a range of other leading-edge technologies.

OVPD® technology has been exclusively licensed to AIXTRON from Universal Display Corporation (UDC), Ewing, N.J. USA for equipment manufacture. OVPD® technology is based on an invention by Professor Stephen R. Forrest et. al. at Princeton University, USA, which was exclusively licensed to UDC. AIXTRON and UDC have jointly developed and qualified OVPD® pre-production equipment.

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